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Simple Summary: Analyses in this paper are concerned with one of the biggest avian raptors distributed widely across Eurasian territory. The White-Tailed Sea Eagle is considered one of the most important protected species of wetlands including plains and seashores. Monitoring heavy metal toxicity in raptors may contribute to the prevention of intoxication in other species, including humans. Researching their biology and different environmental connections may help protect the whole habitat. In the paper, the results of the analysis of the mineral composition of long bones collected from seven White-Tailed Sea Eagles are presented. Specimens came from the territories of Western Poland. It is the first paper describing the bone composition of this species. Mineral bone composition (dry matter, bones ash, P, Ca, Zn, Mn, Mg, and Cu) and Pb levels of tibiotarsi of seven White-Tailed Sea Eagles were assessed. Lead intoxication in different bird species including waterfowl and raptors is being studied worldwide. The bones were analyzed for Pb by mass spectrometry with excitation in inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS Elan DRC II) and for bone composition by Atomic Emission Spectrometer (Agilent 4100 Microwave Plasma). Pb levels ranging from 3.54 µg/g to 74.6 µg/g DM suggest that some of the investigated birds might have been intoxicated by Pb. Results of this analysis were divided into two groups of bones, with bone Pb levels higher and lower than Pb toxicity levels, and mineral bone compositions of both groups were compared. The present study shows the differentiation of bone mineral composition among seven examined White-Tailed Sea Eagles, considered a specific species in raptors. Pb intoxication may not have a major influence on mineral bone composition in raptors. It also suggests that assessing bone composition of raptor bones may help finding the possible cause of their deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest of consumers, as well as the food and feed industry in legumes is constantly increasing. However, the use of legume seeds is limited by the fact that they contain various non-nutritive compounds such as raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs). On the other hand, RFO compounds are considered prebiotic substances improving health and growth of organisms. Our study consisted in the long-term monitoring of RFO contents in seeds of several legumes cultivated in Poland. The seeds of pea (25 cultivars), faba bean (5 cultivars), and lupins (41 cultivars) were harvested between 2013 and 2019, whereas soybean seeds (27 cultivars) were harvested between 2015 and 2019. The analysis showed that the content of RFOs in soybean seeds ranged from 33.75 to 69.30 mg per g dry matter (DM), 57.23 to 130.38 mg/g DM in lupin seeds - 52.03 to 80.60 mg/g DM in pea seeds, and from 32.15 to 65.17 mg/g DM in faba bean seeds. Yellow lupin seeds had the highest total RFO contents in DM, whereas faba bean and soybean seeds showed the lowest RFO contents. Stachyose was the dominant oligosaccharide in all soybean and lupin seeds, while verbascose was the dominant oligosaccharide in most pea and faba bean seeds. Some pea cultivars contained more stachyose than verbascose. Crop species, cultivar, growing environment, and processing methods determine the suitability of individual seeds for the feed and food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Soy is the major source of protein in animal feeds worldwide. In Europe, only GMO-free varieties may be cultivated. Their chemical composition, contamination by fungi and yeast and the acceptable level in the diet of pigs have not been fully determined yet. This work comprised extensive analyses, both chemical (the composition of amino acids and anti-nutritional factors) and microbiological, also including mycotoxins. Moreover, digestibility and performance parameters were studied in 48 male post-weaning piglets for 28 days using diets, in which soybean meal was replaced by 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% soybean seed addition. The chemical composition of soybean seeds differed in terms of crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre and antinutrient contents. Seeds were also contaminated (but to varying intensity, which may have been influenced by the weather conditions during the seed harvest period) with fungi, yeast and mycotoxins, mainly zearalenone and deoxynivalenol. The digestibility coefficients of crude protein and dry matter in the diet were similar. Pigs' performance parameters were reduced strongly with increasing amounts of raw seeds in their diets, so a 5% of raw soy seed supplementation in pigs' diet is recommended. The aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition of European soy seeds. A mycological and toxigenic screening was carried out on 18 varieties of soy seeds harvested in Poland. Moreover, the level of soybean meal (SBM) substitution by raw soybean seeds was analysed in terms of its effect on young pigs' performance (body weight gain, feed intake, feed utilisation) along with apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter and crude protein in the diets. In a 28-day trial, 48 male pigs were tested using a marker method with TiO2. In their diets, SBM was replaced by soy seeds in the amounts of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. In the last 3 days of the experiment, samples of excreta from each animal separately were collected three times per day. The chemical composition of soybean seeds differed in terms of their contents of crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre and raffinose family oligosaccharides, as well as the trypsin inhibitor activity. Seeds were also contaminated with fungi, yeast and mycotoxins, mainly zearalenone and deoxynivalenol. The ATTD of crude protein ranged from 70.6% to 77.6% and that of dry matter from 93.5% to 94.6%, with no differences between the groups being found (p > 0.05). Pigs' performance parameters were reduced strongly with increasing amounts of raw seeds in the diets (p < 0.05). The results indicate that only a 5% addition of raw soy seeds in pigs' diet is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]